Alouettes' notebook

Als receiver Brian Bratton should return to the lineup against Toronto next Sunday.

Injured Alouettes receiver Brian Bratton, who has missed three games with a hyperextended knee, should make his long-anticipated return on Sunday, when Montreal travels to Toronto for a potential first-place East Division showdown.

Bratton actually resumed practising last week, but it wouldn’t have been prudent to thrust him into the lineup against Winnipeg following just one or two practises.

“We want to make sure he gets used to running at full speed,” head coach Marc Trestman stated last week. “Historically, we’ve felt they should have a full week of practice before we send them out there. The players and their health comes first. Coming off an injury it’s not just physical, it’s mental. A guy has to know that area of his body will hold up. You can’t compensate for the injury you’re just getting over.”

Bratton concurred with his head coach – not that he had much say in the matter. He has been practising with a brace but isn’t certain, when he resumes playing, whether that will be necessary.

“I’m making sure I don’t have any setbacks,” Bratton said. “I feel good, but there are a couple of things I’d like to do better.”

Special teams member Dahrran Diedrick returned to the Als’ roster against the Blue Bombers. And tailback Chris Jennings was dressed despite tweaking his groin on Friday. Had Jennings not made it, defensive-back Wopamo Osaisai would have dressed.

That makes two: When Tim Burke, the Als’ former defensive co-ordinator, was named this season as the replacement for the fired Paul LaPolice, he became the second former member of Trestman’s staff thrust into a head coaching role.

Offensive co-ordinator Scott Milanovich left Montreal last winter, named the Argonauts’ head coach.

The Bombers took a 3-10 record into their game against the Als, including 1-4 under Burke’s watch.

“This was Tim’s opportunity, and he has handled it very well,” Trestman said. “He’s a straight-forward guy who’s more than ready for the job, and he’s handling a very tough situation. A co-ordinator moving to head coach in mid-season is a very, very difficult role. I empathize with that portion of it.

“I respect the job he’s trying to do. He’s trying to bring the most out of the guys and help the organization get better.”

Poor Joey: The last, and only time, Bombers quarterback Joey Elliott won a game as a starter this season, LaPolice was still Winnipeg’s head coach.

Elliott, who began the season third on the depth chart, is 1-4 as a starter, his lone win coming Aug. 16, when he passed for 406 yards against Hamilton. Since then, Elliott has been intercepted six times – three alone last week against Toronto – with zero touchdowns.

“It’s been a tough situation. It’s been up and down for all of us on the offensive side of the ball, not knowing who was going to start each week,” Elliott told the Winnipeg Free Press last week. “I’m trying to do the best I can.”

How bad is it for the Bombers? Their quarterbacks have passed for only 10 touchdowns while being intercepted 16 times. Winnipeg also has kicked 30 field goals, indicating many of its drives are bogging down.

News you need: The Bombers, winless in six road games this season, could go 0-9 for the second time in three seasons. Winnipeg was 0-9 in 2010 en route to an overall 4-14 record. … Winnipeg receiver Clarence Denmark missed the game, having left the team following the death of his father. Marvin Denmark, who lives in Jacksonville, Fla., suffered a stroke more than two weeks ago. Denmark’s third on the Bombers in receiving, with 45 catches for 539 yards. He was replaced by Isaac Anderson, playing only the second time this season. … Injured Winnipeg QB Buck Pierce, who missed the game with a concussion, accompanied the team to Montreal, sitting in with offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton in the spotters’ booth. “He has really been great for Gary. He sees so much,” Burke told the Winnipeg Sun last week. “Gary doesn’t have to concentrate as much on what the defensive coverage was. He can concentrate on what the offensive players are doing. Buck can watch the coverage and tell him what it was and the little things you see up there.” … Along with Osaisai, Montreal’s scratches were Ed Gainey, Bo Adebayo and Chima Ihekwoaba.

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